"I Want to Gain Weight!"

[JJ]

I figured since we had an official "Lose Weight" thread - we could also have the opposite.

Often looked aside in the plight of the large person losing weight, is the difficulty that us ectomorphs (skinny people) have in gaining weight.

So last summer, I finally got tired of it, and decided to do everything within my power to start putting muscle on my frame.

As of last August, 2009 - I weighed 151 lbs. I am 6'2". Now as you can imagine, that is incredibly svelte - borderline Ethiopian. I began to hit the gym 5 out of 7 days a week for around 2 hours and change my diet around to a variety of protein-rich, fiber-rich, low-fat foods. Seafood, chicken, rice, whole-wheat stuff. Crazy vegetables and fruits. I eat no fast food or carbonated beverages. But my hyper-quick metabolism meant I had to eat at a horse's pace to keep any weight on. If I were to stop eating or working out for a bit, I would lose 2-3 pounds instantly.

Now I am 173 lbs, and actually have decent strength. But alas, I still look thin. Given my 6'2" frame, I could easily pack another 20-30 pounds. Just to look solidly built.

I found that including L-Arginine and L-Glutamine supplements greatly increased my strength-building. I maximize weight and limit reps to build muscle, and vary my exercises every few weeks to prevent muscle memory. I also started drinking Muscle Milk as a little boost.

So, the purpose of this thread - any tips and tricks that you used to gain muscle weight? Workout suggestions? Supplement ideas? So on? Are you on a muscle-gaining program yourself? Share your stories!